Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan ({{IPA2|bu?'t??n}} {{Audio|Bhutan.ogg|Listen}}) is a landlocked nation in the Himalaya Mountains, sandwiched between India and the People's Republic of China in South Asia. The local name for the country is Druk Yul. It is also called Druk Tsendhen (land of the thunder dragon), because the thunder there is said to be the sound of roaring dragons. Historically Bhutan was known by many names, such as Lho Mon (southern land of darkness), Lho Tsendenjong (southern land of the cypress), and Lhomen Khazhi (southern land of four approaches). The origins of the name Bhutan are unclear; historians have suggested that it may have originated in variations of the Sanskrit words Bhota-ant (the end of Bhot – another word for Tibet), or Bhu-uttan (highlands). The word Bhutan as a name for the country dates from the late 19th century.

Military and foreign affairs

:Main articles: Military of Bhutan, Foreign relations of Bhutan

Related Topics:
Military of Bhutan - Foreign relations of Bhutan

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The Royal Bhutan Army is Bhutan's military service. It includes the Royal Bodyguard and the Royal Bhutan Police. Membership is voluntary, and the minimum age for recruitment is 18. The army numbers about 315,000 and is trained by the Indian Army.{{ref|army}} It has an annual budget of about US$13.7 million?1.8% of the GDP.

Related Topics:
Royal Bhutan Army - Royal Bodyguard - Royal Bhutan Police - Indian Army

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India handles most of Bhutan's foreign affairs by way of conducting formal communications to and from other countries as Bhutan has a shortage of diplomatic personnel. {{inote|Library of Congress|Foreign Relations}} Bhutan sometimes seeks India's advice on external affairs, but is not obliged to follow it. Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 22 countries, including the European Union, with missions in India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Kuwait. It has two UN missions, one in New York and one in Geneva. Only India and Bangladesh have residential embassies in Bhutan. By a longstanding treaty, Indian and Bhutanese citizens may travel to each others' countries without a passport or visa. Bhutanese citizens may also work in India without legal restriction. Bhutan does not have formal diplomatic ties with its northern neighbour, China, although exchanges of visits at various levels between the two have significantly increased in the recent past. Bhutan?s border with China is largely undemarcated and thus disputed in some places. Both countries hope to resolve the dispute amicably and quietly.{{ref|China}}

Related Topics:
European Union - Bangladesh - Thailand - Kuwait - UN - New York - Geneva - Passport - Visa

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